Preparing to open the e-Foreign Business system for foreigners at the end of July.

Nonthaburi, The Department of Business Development is preparing to open a service for submitting applications for licenses/certificates for foreign business operations and other registration work under the Alien Act 1999 via the online system or e-Foreign Business in full form by the end of July. Mrs. Aromon Traiphutham, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce, revealed that the Department of Business Development is moving forward to facilitate foreign investors who travel to invest in Thailand in requesting permission/approval according to the law by preparing to open a service for submitting applications for licenses/certificates of foreign business operations and other registration work under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 via the online system or 'e-Foreign Business' by the end of July 2024. Foreign entrepreneurs or investors can submit applications via electronic channels in full, covering all processes related to applying for permission (end-to-end), from t he application process for licenses/certificates of business operations, electronic payment (e-Payment), electronic receipts (e-Receipt), electronic signatures (Digital Signature), issuance of electronic licenses/certificates (e-Foreign Business License/e-Foreign Certificate) via online channels, and service recipients can download licenses/certificates of business operations via online channels immediately. The e-Foreign Business system is therefore a one-stop electronic service for foreign investors that truly provides convenience. The e-Foreign Business system is currently being tested to ensure its completeness and stability so that foreign investors can use the service online with confidence in the security of both personal and corporate information. They can easily and completely fill in information in one step, as well as improve regulations to support such operations. The system testing went well. We are confident that the e-Foreign Business system will help foreign investors in Thailand to obtain mo re convenience in requesting permissions, reduce costs, and reduce the time spent dealing with the government. This will enhance investment and help create a good atmosphere for doing business in Thailand (Ease of Doing Business). However, the Department of Business Development is ready to provide the e-Foreign Business system to foreign business operators and investors by the end of July 2024 to support legal foreign investment and to ensure that foreigners comply with Thai laws. It is expected that when the Department opens the e-Foreign Business system, foreign business operators/investors will use the online service more and reduce the amount of using the old service or walk-ins. Foreign business operators and investors can use the e-Foreign Business system via www.dbd.go.th. For more information, please contact the Foreign Business Administration Division, Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce, Tel. 0 2547 4420, 0 2547 4425 and 0 2547 4426, e-mail: foreign@dbd.go.th, Department of Bus iness Development Hotline 1570 and www.dbd.go.th The Department of Business Development has been continuously developing its services by using digital technology as a tool to support and increase service efficiency in order to facilitate the business sector and the public to conduct business with agility, support and transform into a complete digital government, and reduce the burden of expenses, which is a reduction in the cost of doing business, resulting in an increase in the country's competitiveness. In 2023, there were 667 foreign investors who traveled to invest in Thailand under the Alien Business Act B.E. 2542, totaling 127,532 million baht in total investment. The top 5 foreign investors were: 1) Japan, 137, investment of 32,148 million baht; 2) Singapore, 102, investment of 25,405 million baht; 3) the United States, 101, investment of 4,291 million baht; 4) China, 59, investment of 16,059 million baht; and 5) Hong Kong, 34, investment of 17,325 million baht. Source: Thai News Agency